Water as a Cardinal Area of Critical Infrastructure Protection

This volume presents a comprehensive overview of the latest scientific research on critical infrastructure security, with a particular emphasis on water security. Contributions come from across Central Europe―including Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Ukraine―as well as from North Africa (Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria) and Western Europe (France). This international collaboration explores a wide range of climate and infrastructure challenges, focusing on the pivotal role of water in ensuring the sustainability and security of societies.

Recent extreme weather events have underscored the dual nature of water as both a vital resource and a potential threat. While essential to life, water can cause devastating floods when in excess, or lead to famine and social instability when scarce. In 2024, Europe experienced both extremes―severe flooding and prolonged drought―resulting in significant economic and humanitarian impacts. These events highlight the urgent need to prioritize water in critical infrastructure protection.

One often-overlooked water-related hazard is ice flooding, which occurs primarily in Central and Eastern Europe during winter or early spring. Ice jams can block river flow, causing sudden floods that damage bridges, dams, waterworks, and municipal infrastructure. These events also pose serious public health risks and threaten drinking water supplies.

The 6th International Conference on Central European Critical Infrastructure Protection (ICCECIP 2024) rightly focused on water as both a strategic resource and a natural hazard. The conference showcased cutting-edge technological solutions and research addressing 21st-century challenges in disaster management, energy independence, and smart systems. Topics included cybersecurity, robotics, uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), and alternative energy sources such as hydrogen.

Key research areas covered:

• Physical protection, especially of water infrastructure
• Cybersecurity and the defense of digital networks
• Political security, including international resource governance
• Individual security, focused on population safety and well-being

This international network of cooperation and knowledge exchange offers valuable insights for preventing future crises, developing effective responses, and advancing sustainable development.

Tünde Anna Kovács is a Full Professor in the Bánki Donát Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering, Department of Materials Technology at Óbuda University, Hungary. She obtained her PhD degree in 2008 from Budapest Technical University, Hungary, and was habilitated in 2022 at Óbuda University, Doctoral School of Materials and Technology Sciences. She is a Member of the editorial board of the Acta Materialia Transylvania, Safety and Security Sciences Review and Security Engineering of Anthropogenic Objects. Her research interests lie in the field of materials science and technology, including special welding processes (ultrasonic and explosive welding), as well as welder robots and collaborative welding robotics. She is a Supervisor of the Doctoral School on Materials and Technologies Sciences and the Doctoral School on Safety and Security Sciences. She is the organiser and chair of the International Conference on Central European Critical Infrastructure Protection, as well as the corresponding author of the conference proceedings.

Róbert Gábor Stadler is an Assistant Professor in the Bánki Donát Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering, Department of Materials Technology at Óbuda University, Hungary. He will get 2022 his MSc degree (Mechanical Engineering) from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary. PhD student at the Doctoral School on Materials Sciences and Technologies, Óbuda University, Hungary, since 2022. Doctoral thesis on the development of polymer friction stir welding technology. He has been the editor of the Proceedings of the Engineering Symposium at the Bánki conference volume for six years. He is a member of the organising group of the International Conference on Central European Critical Infrastructure Protection and a co-author of the conference proceedings.

Norbert Daruka is an external lecturer and training supervisor at the Bánki Donát Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering, University of Óbuda. Lecturer and subject leader at the National University of Public Service, Doctoral School of Military Engineering. He obtained his PhD degree in 2014 on the topic "Protection against criminal terrorist bombings". His main research interests include explosives, their military and industrial applications, and the production and use of explosives. He habilitated in 2024 on the subject of "Illicit use of explosives and explosive devices. He is a registered expert of the Hungarian Association of Military Science. His research interests include explosives, explosives technology, explosives manufacturing, explosive ordnance disposal, bomb disposal, EOD and IED countermeasures, explosive demolition, ice and barrier demolition, and explosive demolition of metals. He is a member of the organizer group of the International Conference on Central European Critical Infrastructure Protection.